You are already familiar with Christopher Columbus and his exploration of the New World. The impact of his exploration was immediately felt by what became known as "The New World". The changes that The New World experienced is commonly called The Columbian Exchange. Below is a diagram of The Columbian Exchange, it depicts some of the exchanges that took place after the Europeans (Old World) began to explore The Americas (New World).
Source: The Columbian Exchange, Wikispaces: Globalimperialism
Today, we experience many of the changes that resulted from The Columbian Exchange. Are you familiar with any of the items from the map below?
Source: The Columbian Exchange, Wikispaces: Globalimperialism
One of the major occurrences that resulted from The Columbian Exchange is a phenomenon that continues today. It is called spatial diffusion
There are many examples of Spatial Diffusion in our world. If you have ever eaten Mexican food or seen a Buddhist temple in the United States, then you have seen the results of spatial diffusion. The photos below are evidence that the customs, architecture, and even food have traveled from their place of origin to the United States. The place from which an innovation originates is called a hearth. Geographers document different hearths to compare how ideas, goods, and other cultural traits spatially diffused from one location to another.
Source: Lightmatter Hsi Lai temple, Lightmatter, Wikimedia
Source: Goettanachos, Khg808, Wikipedia
Video: Ancient Warriors
This lesson will give you an example of how spatial diffusion greatly impacted one culture. This video will introduce you to the Aztec Warriors of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan and the Spanish Conquistadors who explored the New World and what was eventually called Mexico. The video will also give you the background of how the Spanish would forever impact this country and its culture.
RELOCATION DIFFUSION & EXPANSION DIFFUISION
